Whyte Ridge parish feeding stomachs along with souls
St. Gianna Harvest Ministry distributing fresh vegetables to local groups providing charitable services
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $205*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/08/2024 (769 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
At St. Gianna Beretta Molla Parish in Whyte Ridge, they don’t only want to meet the spiritual hunger of people in Winnipeg — they want to provide food for their physical hunger, too.
That’s the thinking behind the parish’s garden, which is in its first year of providing fresh produce for five local charities in the city.
“It’s a way to share our blessings with those in need,” said Rod Cantiveros, one of about 30 members of the parish looking after the garden.
“Inside the church, we can address spiritual needs. Through the garden, we can help feed those who are hungry,” he said.
Called the St. Gianna Harvest Ministry, the garden is located on the grounds of the church, where members planted, weeded and watered the plants. Now they are harvesting and distributing fresh vegetables to Missionaries of Charity, Bear Clan, Willow Place, House of Hesed and Bruce Oake Recovery Centre.
As well, other members of the congregation are taking produce from their home gardens to church for donating to charities.
“It’s a collaborative effort,” said Cantiveros, 82, and co-founder, with his wife, of the Filipino Journal. “It’s a beautiful project that brings body and soul together.”
Cantiveros loves gardening, so it’s also a form of therapy for him.
“Whether I am planting, weeding or pruning, it’s so calming,” he said. “Since I live nearby, I often stop by to see how the garden is doing.”
Rachel Suarez-Banmann is responsible for faith formation at St. Gianna’s. The garden project is an extension of her work.
“It’s a way for people to deepen and express their faith through action and being part of our mission to serve people in need,” she said.
Along with that, it’s a way to build community, said Rev. Darrin Gurr, the pastor at St. Gianna.
“Coming out of the pandemic, it’s been a way to bring people together in a natural way,” he said. “It was easy to pull it together and make it happen.”
It’s also an important service at a time when food prices are high and charities that support people in need are feeling the pinch of increased costs, he said.
With the first year of garden a success, Gurr said the church will continue the effort.
“We have the space on our property,” he said. “I hope that next year we can double our efforts. It’s all part of the overall mission of our church.”
faith@freepress.mb.ca
The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba through our Religion in the News project. This reporting continues because readers like you step forward to fund it.
Donate now to support our reporting on religion.
Your donation is eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba through our Religion in the News project. This reporting continues because readers like you step forward to fund it.
Donate now to support our reporting on religion.
Your donation is eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Advertisement Advertise With Us
Advertisement Advertise With Us
History
Updated on Monday, August 19, 2024 12:20 PM CDT: Fixes typo in cutline in first image.
The Free Press acknowledges the financial support it receives from members of the city’s faith community, which makes our coverage of religion possible.
